By Andru McCracken

What could be a banner year for mosquitoes in general may or may not result in the introduction of the West Nile Virus to this part of the world.

In order to stay on top of the situation Northern Health is again seeking help from the general public to collect dead crows, ravens, magpies or jays.

Specifically they are seeking birds of the corvid family that haven’t obviously been hit by a truck or have been in a fight. Corvids are the most common victims of the virus.

On decapitation

It is not uncommon for a fighting crow to be decapitated, said Charlene Lively, Manager of Public Health Protection with Northern Health, but don’t bother turning in a headless crow to officials. Headlessness was most likely the cause of death and not the virus, and besides, animal health specialists need the head to determine whether the crow was carrying the virus.

Lively said that recent flooding could contribute to a banner year for mosquitoes, but said that mosquitoes most abundant in this area are unable to transmit the West Nile Virus.

Presence of the virus

Regional Director of Public Heath Prevention Lucy Beck said that there have been cases of the West Nile Virus in BC, where somebody who had been visiting Alberta came back sick, but that the virus has not been found in crows or mosquitoes yet.

“We have not detected the virus in any of our corvids or mosquito pools,” she said.

Beck said that there was also a case, where a horse was brought back to BC after having been in the western states that had the virus.

Lively said moving the virus in our region requires the right species of mosquitoes and the presence of the virus.

“BC doesn’t have West Nile Virus as yet,” said Lively. “The corvid collection is the canary in the mine shaft. We’re always guessing and looking at patterns of migration. You think have a pattern but it always shows up where you don’t expect it.”

She said that quite a few dead corvids have been turned in so far, none infected by West Nile.

“If people are willing to bring them in, the animal health centre is willing to test them,” she said.

Do you know where do sick crows go?

Lively said she is unsure of likely places to find a dead crow.

“Usually when animals are sick, they certainly do change their behaviour. I don’t know where they would be typically found,” she said.

Careful collection

If you collect a dead crow, don’t touch it with your bare hands, use gloves, or better a shovel to put it into a doubled up garbage bag. The BC Health Guide said that chances of infection through touching are fairly low, but be careful not to get blood, secretions or feces from the bird on your clothing. Beck said that it is important to wash your hands well afterwards.

Symptoms

While the virus hasn’t been detected in this part of the province yet, you should be aware of the symptoms, which include fever, muscle weakness, stiff neck, confusion, severe headache, sudden sensitivity to light. Most people don’t get very sick from West Nile, but “in a small number of cases, more serious complications and even death can occur,” states a news release from Northern Health.